Let's get the obvious out of the way first. The presentation of the book is beautiful. There is a new drawing in the slipcase made by Ethan Van Sciver, the material in which the book is made is pretty cool and nice to the touch. All in all this is a book that is pretty on the sight.
Why I give it one star?. Because is the THINEST Absolute Edition ever. I received mine yesterday and it makes me wanna cry because of how small it is!. I can't beleive it cost $75 retail price. I mean, this little book only have 224 pages, for Christ sake. It looks like a kid's bed-time story. The extras are a JOKE, a slap in the face. You can see a couple of Thumbnails of the outline here on Amazon. That's pretty much it!!. There is the script of chapter one (that is a perfect transcription of what you already saw in the first issue) and a few other pages with sketches, but NO COMMENTS on the drawings.
There is also the two stories included: "Flight" and "Green Lantern #1", which can both be found in the trade Green Lantern: No Fear. Fist of all, "Green Lantern #1" is waaaaay incomplete!. They didn't include the whole chapter but only 2 or 3 pages from it. "Flight", by Darwyn Cooke is just fantastic. That little porcion of the book looks even better than Rebirth itself.
Ethan Van Sciver's art wasn't made to be enlarge. I used to dig the drawing of Kyle Ryner's first appearance in Rebirth when he say "Don't be afraid", but on this edition the big pages just let you know that Van Sciver dont worry to even make a decent background. Only the characters matter, and even those doesn't look that great.
The reason why I got this was because I though they will be releasing Absolute Sinestro Corps War too, and that will make a cool collection if I got both of them. well, the thing is:
1: There is not even rumors yet for Sinestro Corps War will get Absolute treatment.
2: Even if SCW is launched to the market, Absolute Rebirth wasn't made as part of a collection but a stand alone Absolute volume.
I agree that Rebirth is pretty special because is Hal Jordan (the original Silver Age Green Lantern) big come back, and because is the start of something far cooler, which is Blackest Night, but be honest the story is not as good in terms of hard action nor epic moments nor art. Is just a decent story. That's it. If DC would launch instead a Deluxe Edition of this same book with the same content on a reasonable price, I would say it worth every penny. Absolute Edition was definably not the right way to go.
If you check well, DC also launch a new print of Green Lantern: Rebirth in paperback format. This book have 192 pages, have several extras, and it cost only $10.19. Only 32 pages less thank the Absolute, and I garantee that only "Flight" and the scrip for chapter 1 (that you don't need)is what's lacking. The script doesn't really help you to unravel anything nor adds something particulary good.
This is what is called "Market Experiment". You launch a mediocre product to the market with good publicity. If it sells the company will feel confortable making more products of its kind. If it doesn't sell, they will start considering making better things, or at least they will have to think in better aproach. MEANING: If this becomes a best seller or something like it we are giving the door open to DC suits to keep selling hardcovers of 100 pages for $20 (with Amazon discount). I mean, what's next?... ABSOLUTE KILLING JOKE (with 100 pages at $75 retail price)?!!. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!. Don't be a fool (like me) and save your money for something worthy like Blackest Night.
Something I would pay more money for would be:
ABSOLUTE BATMAN: DARK VICTORY
ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR
**ABSOLUTE IDENTITY CRISIS**
ABSOLUTE INFINITE CRISIS
SUPERMAN: NEW KRYPTON 1 (Vol.1 and 2)==> 336 pages
SUPERMAN: NEW KRYPTON 2 (Vol.3 and 4)==> 336 pages
You think I'm wrong?. Please leave your opinion so we can discuss it.
UPDATE 02/16/2011
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Just as I predicted. DC has done it again. I found news that made me (almost) scream of happines. I was so exited:
ABSOLUTE IDENTITY CRISIS HC --- OCTOBER 12th
I was full of joy until... Until I read the rest: "288 pg, FC, 8.25" x 12.5", $99.99 US"
You GOT to be kidding me!!!!!. They Absolute a book that deserved (in my opinion) to be Absoluted but they didn't put any extras on it... and they'll charge $100 for it??. C'mon!!!!!!. Both the Sofcover and HC edition have 288 pages, so I guess they'll take something out to include other stuff. I dunno.
I TOLD YOU ALL!!!!! MARKET EXPERIMENT!!!!!
